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ANALOGUE OCTOBER RECORDS CHICHESTER

Craig Crane already has a hugely successful career in special FX for blockbuster movies – and he’s even had a hand in George from Rainbow. Gary Walker heads to Chichester on the hunt for Analogue October, Crane’s new vinyl-only shop…

TALKING SHOP

Gary Walker

With a prestigious film and TV career under his belt that saw him work as a puppeteer for Jim Henson before becoming a self-employed animator, you’d have been forgiven for questioning Craig Crane’s sanity when, in 2017, he announced his intention to invest a six-figure sum in opening a record shop.

Having ‘been’ George on cult children’s TV show Rainbow, and worked on The Muppet Christmas Carol and Spitting Image, Crane foresaw the impact of the coming digital revolution on puppeteering. He set up his own visual effects studio, working on Hollywood movies such as the Harry Potter series, Thor and Avengers, and adding stellar clients such as Disney, Marvel and Warner Bros to his CV.

However, Crane decided to press pause on that high-intensity lifestyle, one day finding himself walking down South Street in the West Sussex county city of Chichester and passing a vacant shop unit that had housed a vintage sweetshop.

That transformative moment coincided with a challenge the lifelong record collector had set himself – a digital detox, banishing listening to music through non-analogue devices from his life.

MASTER OF PUPPETS

“I remember speaking to one of our suppliers now, and telling him I had this crazy idea to open a record shop, and he said: ‘Are you effing mad?’,” recalls Crane. “We’ve become firm mates since then, because I really enjoyed his honesty.

About Long Live Vinyl

Issue 16 of Long Live Vinyl hits the shelves on what would have been Prince's 60th birthday.
Our cover story focuses on the astonishingly prolific decade between 1978-88, when the Purple One released 10 albums that shaped the future of pop. We also round up the 40 essential Prince releases on vinyl that your collection should not be without and profile the cover art that accompanied his remarkable catalogue.
Elsewhere this issue, we speak to The Smiths legend Johnny Marr about how he made his best solo album yet – Call The Comet – in his home city of Manchester, hear how Josh T Pearson raised the bar with his own latest record, and sit down for a chat with post-punk icons Wire. In our packed features section, we find out which record changed everything for former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler and meet famous 4AD artist in residence Vaughan Oliver to talk through his classic designs for the Pixies, The Breeders and Cocteau Twins.
Also this month, we turn the spotlight on a label that's become a Chicago institution with a mind-bogglingly diverse roster – Drag City, Mark Elliott travels to Belfast for his latest cratedigging adventure in The Trip, and we take an in-depth look at the making of Carole King's career highlight, Tapestry.
If all that's not enough, our packed reviews section rounds up new releases and reissues by The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, The Orb, Kamasi Washington, Let's Eat Grandma, Richard Hawley and many more, plus you'll find expert hardware buying and HIFI DIY advice, as well as turntable, speaker and accessory reviews.
Long Live Vinyl is THE magazine for vinyl lovers. Pick up your copy today!